Algerian soldiers killed six armed Islamists from the hardline Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) group at the weekend in two separate operations in northern Algeria, newspapers reported Tuesday.

Five GSPC members were killed Sunday in an ambush by soldiers in Boumehir, near the group's stronghold in Sidi Ali Bounab in Kabylie, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Algiers, according to the Daily Oran newspaper.

Security forces killed another GSPC member in Boudouaou, 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the capital on Sunday, and seized a load of documents during the operation, L'Expression reported, without giving details.

Meanwhile, hospital staff on Monday reported that seven people, including a baby, were killed and one injured in an attack the same day by armed extremists in a village in western Algeria.

The attack took place in El Houala, some 360 kilometres (225 miles) west of Algiers, in the Mascara region, a stronghold of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA).

Some 80 people have been killed in Algeria since the beginning of August in ongoing violence linked to armed groups, according to a tally compiled by local media.

More than 100,000 people, mainly civilians, have lost their lives in Algeria's civil war since 1992, when the army interrupted elections that the now outlawed Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) was certain to win -- ALGIERS (AFP)